Match book



June 2, 1942.

R GUYER MATCH BOQK Filed July 31, 1939 gwua/wto r/ agmdlda Q1395 er (via 5 W Patented June 2, 19.42

MATCH BOOK Reynolds Guyer, St. Paul, Minn., asslgnor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application July 31, 1939, Serial No. 287,481

7 Claims.

amatch book in which the matches may be removed and struck without opening the cover of the match book, whereby accidental lighting of the matches is prevented.

A feature of the invention resides in providing a match book in which the striking surfaces are concealed.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a match book including a cover constructed from a single strip of material having lateral edges and folded transversely of the edges to form a reverse side wall, an obverse wall and an end portion intermediate the side walls.

An object of the invention resides in permanently and securely attaching the block of matches between the free ends of the side walls by means of a fastener or other device extending jointly through the same and in providing finger notches in the side walls through which access to the matches in the block may be had.

A feature of the invention resides in utilizing two notches, one in each side wall and in arranging the notches to extend inwardly from opposite lateral walls and toward the center so that access may be had to one-half of the matches through heads into the groove formed between the extensions.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a match book illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the match book shown in Fig. 1 and taken on line 2 --2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the match book shown in Fig. l and taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a developed view of the cover of the match book.

In the use of books of matches considerable danger occurs and damage is done through unintentional lighting of the entire block of matches due to accident and carelessness. This frequently occurs while the match is being struck to light the same. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a match book in which the heads of the matches while in the block are at all times protected and in which the cover does one notch and access had to the other one-half of the matches through the other notch.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the ends of the said walls of the cover with extensions adapted to form in conjunction with the stubs of the block of matches a groove opening outwardly from the end of the book of matches.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing means within the groove forming a striking surface for lighting the matches.

' Another object of the invention resides in providing coatings on the facing surfaces of the extensions for lighting the matches.

An object of the invention resides in providing a match book in which the extensions are formed with notches to assist in inserting the match not have to be open to give access to the matches. At the same time the striking surfaces are concealed and protected so that the head of the match, while being ignited, is not exposed.

My invention is indicated inrits entirety by the reference numeral A and comprises a block of matches B and a cover C therefor. These parts will now be described in detail.

A block of matches B may be of the ordinary conventional form and the matches disposed therein are indicated at 20. The block B consists of two sheets of paper [0 and II whichare slit longitudinally along lines l2 to form a number of stems l3 issuing outwardly from stubs M. The endsof the stems iii are formed with heads l5 which are provided with the usual chemicals adapted to become ignited upon the striking on a proper striking surface. The block B is assembled by superimposing the two sheets l0 and II with the stubs M arranged one upon the other and securing the same together and to the cover, as will be subsequently more fully described. When the parts are so arranged, the head l5 being of greater thickness than the stem l3,-

causes the block to become enlarged at the upper end, as is now the custom with ordinary books of matches.

The cover 0 of the invention is constructed from a blank l6, shown in Fig. 4, which is formed 38 of the blank space 25 provided therebetween in which the block of matches B is inserted. The blank is of such a length that the ends 26 and 21 of the side walls 22 and 23 overlie the stubs M of the block B. The

block B is permanently and securely attached between the two side walls 26 and 21 with the heads I of the matches opposite the end portion 24 by means of a wire stitch or staple 28 which passes jointly through said ends 26 and 21 and the stubs I4. In this manner the block of matches is contained entirely within the space 25 and the heads completely concealed and protected b the end portion 24.

In the obverse side wall 22 is formed a finger notch 3| which extends inwardly from the lateral edge I! of the blank l6 and to a position in close proximity to the center of the blank. This finger notch is situated intermediate the score l9 and the end 26 is the blank to leave a protecting portion 32 on the wall 22 which covers the heads l5 of the matches. In the wall 23 is provided a similar finger notch 33 which extends through the edge N3 of the blank l6 and inwardly toward the center of the blank. This notch is also disposed in spaced relation to the score 2| and to provide a protecting portion 34 on the blank, similar to the protecting portion 32. By means of the notches 3| and 33 access may be had to the stems l3 of the matches 20 intermediate the heads l5 and the stubs l4. The outermost of the matches 20 can thus be removed one at a time by extending the finger into the said notches and breaking the stems away at the stubs M. It will readily be comprehended that one-half of the matches 20 are accessible through the finger notch 3| and the other one-half are accessible through the finger notch 33.

The ends 26 and 21 of the side walls 22 and 23 of cover C are constructed with extensions 34 and 35. These extensions project beyond the lowermost edges 36 of the stubs l4 to form a groove 31 therebetween. Upon the inner surface 16 and along the extensions 34 and are provided suitable coatings 39 which form striking surfaces on which the matches to be lighted may be struck. It will become apparent that the said coatings face each other when the cover is assembled and the said coatings are thus protected. When a match is run along the groove 37 and pressed towards one of the extensions 34 or 35 the head of the said match follows along the coating 39 on said extension and the match becomes lighted. Due to the rapidity with which one usually strikes a match the match does not burst into a flame until it leaves groove 31 so that ignition of the cover is prevented.

To facilitate inserting the matches into the groove 31, the extensions 35 and 39 are con-' structed with notches 4| and 42. Notch 4| is disposed at the corner formed by the edge ll of the blank. Notch 42 is disposed at the corner formed by the edge l8. When the cover is assembled the notches expose portions 43 of the striking coatings 39 upon which the match may be placed. After the match has been positioned upon these exposed portions the match head may be readily run along the groove and ignited.

' In the use of the invention the matches are removed, one at a time, through the finger notches 3| and 33 and the heads thereof placed upon the exposed portions 43 of the striking coatings 39. The heads are then run alon the groove 31, pressure being applied to the coating on which the match head is first placed. The match then becomes ignited. In the use of the invention the cover is not opened and the matches are removed as required without manipulation of the cover.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An extremely simple and practical construction is provided whereby blocks of matches may be conveniently carried about. The matches, being permanently and rigidly secured between the side walls of the cover, the same are at all times protected. The user does not have to fumble in opening the cover as the matches are immediately available through the finger notches. By the arrangement of the extensions on the ends of the side walls of the cover a groove is formed in which the match head may be run whereby the match is easily and positively struck. By arranging the striking coating on the facing sur faces of the extensions the said coatings are fully protected. With the notches in the extensions of the side walls, the matches are easily inserted into the striking groove. Due to the fact that the coatings are upon the inner faces of the extensions of the side walls, the outer surfaces of said extensions are available for use for printing, advertising or decorative purposes. The book of matches is extremely handy to carry and occupies a minimum amount of space.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my inventicn, what I claim as new and desire to protect' by Letters Patent is:

1. A match book comprising a cover constructed from a single strip of material having lateral edges and folded transversely of said edges to form a reverse side wall, an obverse side wall and an end portion intermediate the side walls, a block of matches constructed from a plurality of overlying sheets of paper slit longitudinally to provide a number of stems having heads at their ends and stubs from which the stems issue, said block of matches'being disposed between the side Walls of the cover with the heads adjacent the end portion and the stubs between the ends of the side walls, said obverse side wall having a finger notch in the same extending through one of the lateral edges thereof and inwardly toward the center of said side wall to expose a portion of the matches, said reverse side wall having a similar notch extending'through the lateral edge thereof opposite the other lateral edge of the obverse side wall to expose the remainder of the heads adjacent the stems issue, said block of matches being disposed between the side walls of the cover with the end portion andthe stubs between the ends of the side walls, extensions on said side walls projecting beyond the stubs and forming a groove therebetween, means within said groove providing a striking surface, and means for securing the stubs to both of the-side walls, one of said extensions being formed with a notch communicating with said groove for directing a match into the groove.

3. A match book comprising a cover constructed from a single strip of material having lateral edges and folded transversely of said edges to form a reverse side wall, an obverse side wall and an end portion intermediate the side walls, a block of matches constructed from a plurality of overlying sheets of paper slit longitudinally to provide a number of stems having heads at their ends and stubs from which the stems issue, said block of matches being disposed between the side walls of the cover with the heads adjacent the end portion and the stubs between the ends of the side walls, extensions on said side walls projecting beyond the stubs and forming a" groove therebetween, means within said groove providing a striking surface, and means for securing the stubs to both of the side walls, each of said extensions being formed with a notch communicating with said groove for directing a match head into the groove from either side of the cover, said notches being disposed out of register.

4. A match book comprising a cover constructed from a single strip of material having lateral edges and folded transversely of said edges to form a reverse side wall, an obverse side wall and an end portion intermediate the side walls, a block of matches constructed from a plurality of overlying sheets of paper slit longitudinally to provide a. number of stems having heads at their ends and stubs from which the stems issue, said block of matches being disposed between the side walls of the cover with the heads adjacent the end portion and the stubs between the ends of the side walls, extensions on said side wallsprojecting beyond the stubs and forming a groove therebetween, the facing surfaces of said extensions being provided with a coating forming a striking surface and means for securing the stubs to both of the side walls, each of said extensions being formed with a notch, each of said notches exposing a portion of the striking surface of the opposite extension.

5. A match book comprising a cover constructed from a single strip' of material having lateral edges and folded transversely of said edges to form a reverse side wall, an obverse side wall and an end portion intermediate the side walls, a block of matches constructed from a plurality of overlying sheets of paper slit longitudinally to provide a number of stems having heads at their ends and stubs from which the stems issue, said block of matches being disposed between the side walls of the cover with the heads adjacent the end portion and the stubs between the ends of the side walls, extensions on said side walls projecting beyond the stubs and forming a groove therebetween, the facing surfaces of said extensions being provided with a coating forming a striking surface and means for securing the stubs to both of the side walls, each of said extensions being provided with a notch at a comer thereof, said notches being situated at opposite corners to expose portions of the striking surfaces of the opposite extensions.

6. A match book comprising a cover 'constructed from a single strip of material havin lateral edges and edges to form a reverse side wall, an obverse side wall and an end portion intermediate the side walls, a block of matches constructed from a plurality of overlying sheets of paper slit longitudinally to provide a number of stems having heads at their ends and stubs from which the stems issue, said block of matches being disposed between the side walls of the cover with the heads adjacent the end portion and the stubs between the ends of the side walls, said obverse side wall having a finger notch in the same extending through one of the lateral edges thereof and inwardly laterally of said edge to expose a portion of the matches, said reverse side wall having a similar notch extending through the lateral edge thereof opposite the other lateral edge of the obverse side wall and exposing the remainder of the matches, and means for rigidly securing the stubs to both of the side walls to restrain relative movement between'both of the walls of the cover and the stubs.

7. A match book comprising a cover constructed from a single strip of material havin lateral edges and folded transversely of said edges to form a reverse side wall, an obverse side wall and an end portion intermediate the side walls, a block of matches constructed from a plurality of overlying sheets of paper slit longitudinally to provide a number of stems having heads at their ends and stubs from which the stems issue, said block of matches being disposed between the side walls of the-cover with theheads adjacent the end portion, said obverse side wall having a finger notch in the same extending through one inwardly toward expose some of the matches, said reverse side wall having a similar notch extending through the lateral edge thereof opposite the other lateral edge of the obverse side wall to expose the remainder of the matches, and means for rigidly securing the stubs to both of the side walls adiacent their ends.

REYNOLDS GUYER.

folded transversely of said of the lateral edges thereof and the center of said side wall to 

